Please tell me that this dude is in this group…. We met at the Ozzy signing at HMV and I took the photos of him getting his back signed and went to Boots after to print them, social media wasn’t really a thing then, so we didn’t connect, but I’ve thought about him a lot recently….

Hi everyone,

This might be a long shot, but I’ve been thinking about this for years and I’m really hoping someone here might be able to help me.

I’m looking for someone I met very briefly, but who left a lasting impression on me. It was at an Ozzy Osbourne signing at HMV – I can’t remember the exact year off the top of my head, but I remember the atmosphere perfectly. The queue was wrapped around the store, everyone was buzzing, there was that electric mix of excitement and disbelief that we were actually going to meet the Ozzy. I remember the smell of marker pens, the shuffle of CD inserts and records being passed along, the staff trying to keep things moving.

And there was this guy. He stood out to me even in the chaos. He had this incredible energy – you could tell he was so excited to meet Ozzy, but there was also this kind of calm confidence about him. We started chatting while waiting in line. I think we joked about how we’d both been rehearsing what to say, and then agreed we’d probably both end up saying something completely ridiculous when we got to the table.

When we finally made it inside and got closer to the front, that’s when it happened. He told me that he was planning to get his back signed by Ozzy. At first I thought he was joking, but nope – he really meant it. When his turn came, he pulled off his shirt right there, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, and sure enough Ozzy signed his bare back with a big black marker. Everyone around gasped and laughed and cheered, and Ozzy seemed to love it.

And here’s the thing – I took photos for him. I don’t even know why we trusted each other instantly, but we did. I grabbed his camera (or maybe it was on mine? It’s been so long I’m hazy on that detail) and I snapped a bunch of shots while Ozzy was signing. They were brilliant photos, and afterwards we were both still buzzing. We stepped outside and went over to Boots to print them off. This was before social media really existed in the way it does now – no Instagram, no Facebook groups, no easy way to keep in touch with people you met in passing. We didn’t exchange numbers or emails. I think we just said something like, “See you at the next one,” and went our separate ways.

But I’ve thought about him so many times over the years. There’s something about that moment – about how pure and fun and spontaneous it was – that’s stuck in my memory. It was one of those weird little human connections you don’t expect but that stays with you. I can still picture his grin, the crowd clapping, and Ozzy laughing as he signed.

So… if you’re in this group, please tell me it’s you. Or if anyone here remembers that signing and knows someone who had their back signed by Ozzy that day, please tag them or pass this on. I’d love to know how you’ve been, whether you still have those photos, whether you ever got that signature turned into a tattoo (I always wondered if you did!).

Even if nothing comes of this, thank you all for reading my little trip down memory lane. That signing was such a special day, and this community feels like the kind of place where people will understand why a random encounter like that would stick with someone for so long.

If you are that guy – or if you know him – please drop me a message or comment here. I’d honestly be over the moon to reconnect after all these years.

Thanks for letting me share,